The video revealed how ant rafts altered their shape, with slim extensions of ants growing from the main areas of ant rafts like arms, over just a few hours.”These protrusions have, to our knowledge, neither been documented nor discussed in the existing literature,” researchers wrote in a new research study, released June 30 in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface.Freely moving ants clamber over fixed ants that anchor together to form a fire-ant raft. Together, this cycle contracted and broadened the raft, crafting narrow bridges of ants reaching external to search for land nearby where the colony could safely disperse.Other aspects– such as the season, time of day and the colonys habitat– can influence ant behavior and might likewise play a role in the characteristics that shape fire ants rafts.

The video revealed how ant rafts altered their shape, with slender extensions of ants growing from the primary sections of ant rafts like arms, over simply a few hours.”These protrusions have, to our understanding, neither been documented nor described in the existing literature,” researchers composed in a brand-new study, released June 30 in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface.Freely moving ants climb over fixed ants that anchor together to form a fire-ant raft. Together, this cycle broadened the raft and contracted, crafting narrow bridges of ants reaching outside to browse for land close by where the nest might safely disperse.Other factors– such as the season, time of day and the nests environment– can affect ant behavior and might also play a role in the dynamics that form fire ants rafts.